by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a physics degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 86 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying physics schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send physics graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #1 spot for highest-paid physics graduates in the United States. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $114,864.
Strong graduate earnings at James Madison University earned it the #2 place for physics. James Madison University is a public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Physics graduates of James Madison University earn a median of about $93,914 a year early in their careers.
University Of Arizona produces some of the highest-paid graduates in physics, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Arizona is a public school located in the city of Tucson. Physics graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of about $92,526 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Chicago one of the highest-paying schools for physics. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, physics degree recipients from University Of Chicago typically earn about $91,650 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Gustavus Adolphus College one of the highest-paying schools for physics. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. After graduating, physics degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College typically earn about $88,070 annually.
University Of Notre Dame came in at #6 for physics graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, physics degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame typically earn about $87,228 annually.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for physics salaries this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, physics degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology typically earn about $126,258 annually.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #8 position for physics graduate earnings this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. Early-career physics graduates from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus make a median of around $81,584 per year.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for physics. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Physics graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $111,815 a year early in their careers.
West Virginia Wesleyan College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. Set in the town of Buckhannon, West Virginia Wesleyan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,917.
University Of California Davis placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for physics. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Early-career physics graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $80,618 per year.
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #12 position for physics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,503.
Florida State University landed the #13 spot for physics salaries this year. Florida State University is a public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,659.
Allegheny College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. Located in the town of Meadville, Allegheny College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career physics graduates from Allegheny College make a median of around $75,370 per year.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #15 position for physics graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,149.
University Of Florida ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,362.
Portland State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a public institution. After graduating, physics degree recipients from Portland State University typically earn about $84,248 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #18 for physics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Physics graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of about $70,150 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for physics. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Physics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $80,500 a year early in their careers.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for physics. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career physics graduates from University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $68,215 per year.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #21 for physics graduate earnings this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public school located in the suburb of Pomona. After graduating, physics degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $74,433 annually.
Salisbury University earned the #22 position for physics graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a public institution. Early-career physics graduates from Salisbury University make a median of around $86,468 per year.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. Physics graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $84,403 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for physics. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Physics graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $78,349 a year early in their careers.
California State University San Marcos placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for physics. California State University San Marcos is a public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Physics graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $80,480 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid physics ranking:
Explore the highest-paying physics schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their physics graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 86 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
